| Under
Dharasena IV (A.D. 640-649) Valabhi was still a magnificent city. Dandin, who wrote during
his time, has given a fine description of the city and its merchant prince Grihagupta, who
was the owner of many sea-faring vessels.4 Prabhasa was an international port during the
whole of this period. About the beginning of the
eighth century, however, the Chalukyas of Badami overran the mainland and Valabhi lost its
hold on old possessions. In A.D. 722 Valabhi lost the district of Khetaka Mandala to Jaya
bhata III, the feudatory of Chalukya Mangalaraja, then ruling at Navsari in modern South
Gujarat.5
4 Dandin-Dashakumaracharita (NS, 1936), p. 225
5 BG. I., Pt. I., p. 523. |
